Straight-line bookbinding machine



Much 5, 1929. R. E. ACKLEY 1,704,454

STRAIGHT LINE BOOKBINDING MACHINE 8 Shea 13i 1 g May 27. 1927 March 5, 1929. R. E. ACKLEY 1,704,454

I; V S'I'RAIG'rH'l' LINE BOOKBINDING CHINE Filed May 27, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 5, 1929. R. E. ACKLEY 1,

' .SI'RAIGHT LINE BOOKBINDING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 45 1 ofi (a7 g L LI March 5, 1929. R. E. ACKLEY v ,45

STRAIGHT LINE BOOKBINDING CHINE Filed May 27. 1927 8 Shuts-Sheet 4" Emu 1 111 Much 5,. 1929.

R. E. ACKLEY 1,704,454

STRAIGHT LINE BOOKBINDING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 5,1929; R. E. M-ZKLEY 4,

smma-r mus aobxsmnma IACHIINE Filed May 27, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 March 5, 1929. R; E. ACKLEY 1,704,454,

STRAIGHT LINFZ BOOKBINDING IACHINE r1199 Bay 27, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 8 I- L" -2 .l'

Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND E. ACKLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO B. R. D ONNELLEY & SONS 00., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STRAIGHT-LINE BOOKBINDING MACHINE.

Application filed May 27,

This invention relates to bookbinding machines and particularly to machines of the type in which the assembled signatures are gripped, the folded backs of the signatures are cut away leaving a series of leaf edges which are then glued together at the back and a cover pressed on said glued back portion.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine in which the book passes through the machine continuously and preferably at the same speed throughout, while the various operations of cutting oil? the back, transversely sawing or grooving the back for the better reception of the glue which is applied to the cut edges of the back, applying a super to said glued portion, placing a cover in alignment with said book and firmly pressing the same upon the glued portion of the book, are being performed.

Other objects are the provision of improved means particularly applicable to the general conveyor arrangement for performing the various functions of the machine.

These and other objects, as will hereinafter appear. are fully described in the following specifications and shown in the accompanying drawings. in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entire machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the rotary trimming mechanism partly in section on the line 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same;

4 is a partial enlarged horizontal section on the line 4 of Figs. 1 and 5; s

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial enlarged side elevation and section showing the saw for forming grooves inthe back of the book;

i Fig. 7 is an enlarged view on the line 7 of Fig. 1 showing the mechanism for cutting and applying the super; 7

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the operative parts of this super applying mechanism;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial section on the line 9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a similar view on the line 10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged broken perspective 1927. Serial No. 194,645.

view showing the cover feeding and pressing mechanism Fig. 12 is a partial section on line 12 of Flg. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged end elevation of the machine as viewed on the line 13 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a partial section on the line 14 of Fig. 13,;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line 15 of Fig. 13; and i Fig. 16 is a vertical section on the line 16 of Fig. 1.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a machine as shown in Fig. 1 having a pair of upper CODVGYOISA which preferably extend through the length of the machine and which grip the upper portions of a book which is fed to them atone end and retains this same grip upon the book until it is discharged at the opposite out. This leaves the lower or unsupported end of the book free to be grasped by other conveyors as B, C and D which assist in performing various operations upon the book.

For example, the conveyor B holds the lower edge firm while it is being trimmed by the rotary trimmer E and also while it is given a transverse notch or groove by means of the rotary saw F. i

The conveyor C fans the lower cut por tion of the book to one side as will readily be apparent so as to expose overlapping edges of the sheets to the gluing mechanism G. The conveyor 1) holds the lower portion of the book again in aflat position while a super is applied by the mechanism H and also while a cover is applied to the back of the book and firmly pressed down by means of the mechanism J after which the book passes out through the chute at the end to the crossfeeding mechanism K.

The long conveyor A is carried by a suitable frame which is supported upon standards 1:"). 16, 17 and 18 and are driven by means of worm gear drives19 at the tail end of the conveyor which are substantially like those shown inFig. 5. which drive the conveyor B and which will later be explained in detail. Those conveyors are driven by means of a motor 20 (Fig. 13) which has abelt 21 which drives a pulley on a shaft 22 which is carried in suitable bearings on the main Ill) frame and which extends substantially throughout the length of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, driving various parts of the mechanism. A gear 23 on the shaft 22 drives an idler 24 which in turn drives a gear 25 on the shaft 26. The gears 23 and 25 are the same size so that the shafts 22 and 26 are driven at the same rotative speed and in the same direction.

Books are fed to the boolrhinding machine by means oi a conve or belt which passes over a sprocket 28 which driven by means of gears, not hailOYfll, ire mit 29 which has a. worm-wheel 30 which is driven by the worm. on the shaft so. The belt 27 has a series of lugs 22 which teed the heel; to the pressure belts [i in a d- .ite timed relation thereto so that they are always in step with the several pieces of meehai ism oi the heels binding. machine particuhu'ly the super feeding mechanism G and the cover feeding; mechanism H.

The trimming mechanism shown particularly in Figs. 9, and 8 comprises a frame 31 having onrnalled therein two vertical shafts 32, only one being shown, and each having a worm-wheel 33 both of which are driven by means of a worm 34; on the motor shaft This shaft is driven by a motor 36.

The two shafts carry their u p ends rotary knives 37 which are spaced. a short distance apart, the cutting edges of the two lyin in the same horizontal plane and beneath the 311th of the books w ich shown by dotted lines in Fig; 3. The two rotary knives are set at an angle to the path of the books so that the cutting edges of the two hnives overlap on the path of the books.

The unit hasa longitndinal. groove 31 in the frame 31 inwhich slides a l or 31 which has a central pin 31 pivotal y mounted a hole in the base as shwn in Figs. 2 and The angular position of the bar 31" is fired by the bolts 3]. and the position of the ironic. 31 with respect to the bar 3) is liXOCl by the bolts 31 in the slots 31 These knives are preferably driven so that the cutting" edges are traveling in. the general direction taken. by the books but at a faster or slower rate so that a slicing action is produced. By overlappi the cut... edges of the knives the eutting oli all the sheets of the books is insured. and a better and more oniform cut is obtained by thus settiltig the two knives at opposite oi the hooks. Grinders 38 are placed at the side of the knives 37 and a little below the level. of the same so that they may be fed under the lrnive and may be driven in any suitable manner a. by means of electric motors 39. This grinding unit as a whole may be raised and lowered by means of a feed screw 40 so that the grinder may be lowered when not in use and raised tor the purpose of sharpenin the knives.

It will be luulerstoodthat the heels. on on terins; the machine, is caught near its upper part by the up per conveyor belts ll. which will later be described in detail and that these belts retain a lirm grip on the book throughut its travel through the machine. The lower belt ll consists of a chain, as shown in F i and 5, having a series of links passing around chain sprockets z" which. are keyed to vertical she .l l4; These shafts carry worm-whee which are driven by means of worms 4-6 on t i sha its 92 and 26. This same drive is used for driving each of the pressure belt conveyors A. ll, (I and. D so that they are all driven at the same speed.

They are also all siniultaneoioszly spaced with respect to each other by means oil. screws 47 which are suitably join'nalled in the stand ards 15 1d. 17, and 18 the standard being shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The vertical. shaft 44: in common with all. of the similar conveyor shafts on the right hand side 0; Fig. 13 are held stationary by means oi arms 16 on. the standard 16 while similar arms l8 are movable back and forth by means of the screws i? The latter arms carry the mouihle portions of the frame in which are journalled the shafts which .arry the movable sections of the conveyors and which are shown on the left hand side of Fig. 13.

All of the adjusting screws l? are provided with bevel gears 48 13) which in turnv mesh with bevel gears 4.9 on the shat which extends throughout the length oi the machine. The bevel gears 48 and d8 are keyed on the shaft 48*, the gear 418 nieshin with the gear 48 or. the shalt 4-8 on whicl is carried a handwheel 48 The shot; 48 is threaded into a lug 67 on the frame 67 of the movable conveyor which has iides til which are slidable in the support Thus by training the shaft 50 by means oi the ham lwheel 48 sui iporting' arms fill" an n b oi the four standards are moved l or l or baclz thereby simultaneously ClijClQflhFff or increas--: ing the spacinp between the pa allel conveyors throughout the length of the binding 11121 chine.

The rotary saw F shown in Fig. l is shown and described in detail in my pendi polication for bookbinding machine Serial No. 177,182, filed March 21st, 192?.

The rotary saw F comprises primarily a drum 51 as shown in Fig. (i on which is mounted a spiral saw 52, the drum being driven by means of a chain 53 running p a sprocket 54 on the shaft 26. This saw so timed that the teed of the s the same as that of the conveyors ii... and ll The plates of conveyor B are provided a l: the: r bottoms with notches 55 (Fig. 6) which are so spaced with respect to the spiral cutters that the latter fall into registration. wi h the notches. These notched plates thus support the lower edge of 'th book while the cutter is forming slots therein and these plates alo iilll support the lower edge of the book very firml while the book is passing over the rotary nives 37. To insure an even cut in the notches formed in the bottom of the books the spiral cutter 51 is set at an angle to the path of the books so that no matter what the thickness of the book which is passing through the machine, the cutter will travel entirely across it thereby insuring a notch of uniform depth throughout the width of the book.

The conveyor C shown in Figs. 1 and 16 lies beneath the conveyor A and consists of two chains 56 and 57 which are driven at the same speed as the conveyor A and which have curved plates 58 and 59 which force the bottom edge of the book L into the shape shown in Fig. 16 in which the lower edge L is fanned so as to cause each sheet of the book to slightly overlap the adjacent sheet. Whi e so fanned, the edge L of the book is pressed into contact with a gluing wheel 60 which dips into a glue-pot G.

Thus it will be seen that while the lower edge of the book is fanned thereby causing each sheet to uncover the sheet adjacent, glue is applied to these uncovered faces of the sheets by nieans ofthe gluing wheel 60. It will now be apparent that when the book is released from the conveyor C and again as sumes its original flat form, a small amount of glue will remain on the uncovered edges of the sheets and that when these sheets are firmly pressed together, they will be held by ing will add materially to the bond betweenadjacent sheets. For the sake of the present illustration, however, only one such fanning and gluing is shown since toaddthe other isa mere duplication.

The chains or the conveyors A, B, etc., as shown in Figs. 4 and 16, are made up of links 61 and 62 which are pivotally securedtogether by means of pins 63. Facing links 61 are also provided which are likewise mounted upon pins 63, the facing links having tops which may be shaped to support the book in the manner desired. Pins 63 have rollers 64 mounted thereon which are adapted to roll upon back plates 65 which are carried on the frame members 66 and 67. Thus the pressure of the book K, as shown in Fig. 16, is taken by the facing links 61 and transmitted through the pins 63 and the rollers 64 to the plates 65. Each link 61 has a roller '68 journalled thereon and this roller runs upon a 3 by the frame members 66 and 67 veyor chains being fixed as has heretofore been explained by means of the adjusting screws 47. What has been said about conveyor A shown in Fig. 16 is true also of the construction of conveyors B and D and is also true of conveyor C, shown in Fig. 16,

which difiers therefrom only in the shape of.

the plates 58 and 59.

After the books have passed the fanning and gluing mechanism, they come i to the super-feeding mechanism H as shown in Fig. 1 and this is shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. This mechanism comprises a frame 70 which has a bracket 71 on which is journalled a reel 7 2 upon which is spirally wound a band of loosely woven material 73 commonly called super which is to be placed upon the glued back of the book and between it and the cover which will later be applied. This material passes between rollers 74 and then under the roller 7 5 (Fig. 10) and over the feed roller 76. a

The latter consists of an outer sleeve which is mounted upon a core 7 7, 'the latter being journalled upon a sleeve 78 which is keyed on a shaft 79. The core 77 has a series of tangentially arranged openings in each of which 18 located a steel ball. 81 which is pressed toward the sleeve 78 by mea'nsof a spring 82. As the shaft 79 and sleeve 7 8 are oscillated, as will later be explained, they engage the balls 81, when the sleeve 79 is" rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, therei by advancing the roller 76 and the super fabric 3. As the sleeve? 8 returnsin a clockwise direction, the balls 81 are rolled'back out of contact so that the roller 76 is adupon which is keyed a gear 8 which meshes with a gear 88 on the shaft 89. This shaft is driven by means of a spiral gear 90which meshes with a spiral gear 91 on a shaft 92. All these shafts are-journalled in suitable bearings carried by the frame 70. The shaft 92 has a sprocket 93'keyed thereon which is driven b means of a chain 94 from a sprocket onthesaft26. y l

The shaft 89 carries a gear 95 which meshes with the gears 96 and97 which drive the shafts esand 99. "These shafts carry parallel cranks and 101 having pins 102 (Fig. 9) which are mounted in the side of the hollow box 85 so that the latter is given circular mot-ion, the top always remaining horizontal.

The shaft 99 carries a cam 103 in which operates a cam follower 10 1. This cam follower is carried by a lever arm 105 which is pivotally mounted at 106, the movable end of the lever 105 being connected by means of a pin 107 with a link 108, the opposite end of the link being pivotally connected to a lever 109 which is keyed to the shaft 79 of Fig. 10.

- It will be understood from the foregoing that on each revolution of the shaft 99 the cam 103 acting through the lever 105, the link 108, the lever 109, and the ratchet mechanism shown in Fig. 10, advances the super fabric 7 3 from the position shown in Fig. 10 in full lines to the dotted lined position 73. At this time the hollow box 85 is in a position which will permit the super 73 to be fed beneath the knife 83; The upper portion of this hollow box carries a hardened metal top 110 which has a shearing edge 110 which, on its next upward movement, passes the sharp edge of the knife 83 and serves to shear off a strip of the super 73 The strip falls upon the metal top 110 andis then controlled by suction apparatus which will now be described.

The hollow box 85 has a series of openings 85, the box being connected by means of a flexible hose 111 with a three-way valve 112, which in turn connects through a pipe 113 with a pump 114 as shown in Fig. 1. This pump is driven by any suitable means an d. has an outlet 115 while the pipe 113 is an intake.

The three-way valve 112 has a plug 116,

Y which has a lever arm 117 which is connected to the hollow box 85 by means of a link 118. Thus, as the hollow box is oscillated back and forth by means of the pins 102 the passages in the plug 116, in one position of the plug,

connects the intake pipe 113 with the hose 7 111 so that suction. of the pump acting through the openings 85f" in the hollow box 85 serveto hold the severed strip of super on the top of the hollowbox which then moves to bringthis strip of super adjacent the bottom of the revolving drum 8 1.

This drum is provided with a stationary partition 119, which forms a compartment 120, the end of which overlies the end of the hollow box 85. The second compartment 121 is separated from the compartment 120 by means of a partition wall 122. The pipe 115 leads to the compartment 121 so that this is always under pressure while the compartment 120 connects through a pipe 123 with the three-way valve 112 so that the plug 116 is oscillated connection is closed between the hollow box 85 and the pump intake 113 and at the same instant communication is opened between the compartment 120 and the pump intake 113 through the pipe 123. Thus it will be seen that as the stripcf super 73 is severed by the shearing plate 110, the suction of the pump acting through the holes 85 serves to hold the strip firmly on the hollow box 85 so that it will not be dis placed thereon. As the hollow box 85 moves forward the end of the super, as shown in Fig. 9, passes under the rotating drum 8 1 and at this instant the plug 116 oscillates to cut off suction on the hollow box 85 and at the same instant transfers the suction to the compartment 120. The end of the super which then lies adjacent the drum 8 1 is drawn up against the drum and as the latter revolves is wound around the drum as shown in Fig. 9. This then continues until the forward end of the super passes over. the compartment 121 when the pressure within compartment 121 acting through the openings 84; blows the forward end of the super up against the bottom of the book which has previously been glued as has just been explained, the rear portion of the super however still being firmly held by the suction in compartment 120. It is essential of course that the timing of this super feeding mechanism be driven in timed relation to the feed of the main conveyor A so that the super will fall at the correct point on the book.

As the book passes the super feeding mechanism 1:1, as shown in Fig. 1, it encounters the cover feeding and pressing mechanism J. This mechanism is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 and comprises side'frame members 124; which are carried upon supports 125 which have screws 126 by which this mechanism is adjustable for height toward and from the book while held in the conveyor. During the operations of applying the super and the cover and of pressing the latter on the book, the

lower portion of the book is held by the con veyor D which is similar to the conveyor B which has previously been described, except that the facing plates are of such size that a narrow margin of the lower edge of the book is exposed. The frame 1.2 1 has journalled therein shafts 127 and 128 which have suitable sprockets as 129 keyed thereon over which operate the chains 130 of the conveyor which serves to feed the cover to the book. The shaft 128 is driven by any suitable means as by a sprocket 131 which in turn is driven by a sprocket 132 on a shaft 133 (Fig. 13). This latter shaft has a bevel gear 131 which meshes with a bevel gear 135 on the shaft 136. The latter is driven by a gear 137 which meshes with the gear 138 on the feed shaft of the conveyor A.

Referring now to Fig, 12. the conveyor chains 130 carry a series of transverse slats 139 andthese at their outer ends carry brackets 14.0 upon which are pivotally mounted rollers 1 11 which run on the flanged top and bottom face of the supports 1241. The slats 139 are also provided at their centers with small trucks 142 which carry rellc-xra 14-3 ion lilll which run upon ledges 144 which are carried upon a central member 145 which is suitably supported by the lateral supports 124.

Each slat 139 is provided with a transverse opening 146 in which is slidably mounted a lug 147 which carries a plate 148. This lug is provided with a flange 148 upon its inner face so as to slidably retain the lugupon the slat 139. This lug carries a roller 149 which is adapted to roll in the groove 150.

Each slat 139 is provided with two of these plates 14S and the grooves 150 in which 0perate the rollers 149 are convergin at the upper or rear end of the device, as s own in a Fig. 11.

Thus it will be understood from the foregoing that a cover, usually of heavy paper or the like, fed upon the top of the plates 148, and in timed relation to the book, as will hereinafter be explained, will be carried up and pressed against the glued back of the book, the back of the cover in this case being firmly pressed by the central portions 139 of the slats, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12,.the plates 148 then being separated somewhat more than the thickness of the book. As the conveyor advances, the pressure upon the back of the book is maintained and at the same time the plates 148 are pressed inwardly by means of the converging channels 150, so that the back and super are firmly pressed against the back of the book and at the same time the book is squeezed from the sides by the plates 148 so that glue is forced through the sheets and at the same time the lateral pressure forces the sheets together, thereby insuring that the glue Wl110l1 has prevlously been applied to the overlapplng edgesof the sheets will now cause these sheets to adhere to each other. i

It will also be noted that this horizontal strip during which this pressure is applied both vertically and horizontally is quite long, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the glue will have time in which to flow into the spaces between the sheets and at the same time the air will be squeezed from between these sheets.

This glue is applied hot, and if desired, means may be provided for cooling the book at the same time it is held under this heavy pressure.

The cover (not shown) may be fed to the conveyor in any desired manner as from the box 151 (Fig. 11), the cover falling upon the conveyor and immediately in front of the cleats 139 which serve to position it. To insure that it is properly placed laterally on the conveyor, I have provided fingers 152 which are carried on a shaft 153 which is suitably journalled on the side of the support 124 and carries a lever 154 which is connected by means of a link 155 with a suitable crank 1:66 which is carried on a shaft 157. The latter has a crank 158 which operates in a cam 159 which is carried on the shaft 127.

. Thus it will be seen that the fingers 152 at so as to cause it to properly center onthe conveyor.

In order to accommodatebooks of varying thickness it is necessary to adjustthe member 150 which carries the groove or channel 150. This is done by mounting the memher on a series of screws 160, as shown in Fig. 12, and these extend through the side of the support 124 and are squared so as to receive a crank by which they may be adjusted.

Asthe book passes from the pressure conveyor J (Fig. 1), it passes over a conveyor 161, the rear end 162 of which is downwardly inclined. It will be recalled that up to this time the covers have lain out substantially flat. As the book now leaves conveyors A and D and passes down through the chute 163, the sides of which are flared as shown in Fig. 13, these covers are folded over on the book which then passes to the packer box K. i This, as shown in Fig. 13, is operated from the shaft 136 through a pair of bevel gears 164 and 165, the latter being mounted on a shaft 166 which has a crank 167 connected through a link 168 with the parallel links 169. These carry a rocker 170 which is moved back and forth in front of the flares 163 and serves to shove books fed from these flares along the rack 171.

The several conveyors need not necessarily be of the same type. For example, the two pressure conveyors A may be replaced by a single chain such as is commonly. used on certain types of bookbinding machines in which the chain plates carr sprin operated clamps which grip the book an carry it through the machine until the springs are released. a

WVhile I have shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bookbinding machine, a pair of spaced pressure-belts running substantially the length of the machine and adapted to grip a portion of the sides of each book for supporting the same, means forperforming various operations on said book, means for driving said pressure-belts, and means for gripping the unsupported portion of said books adjacent the points where said operations are performed.

2. In a bookbinding machine, a pair of spaced pressure-belts running substantially the length of the machine and adapted to grip a portion of the sides of each book for supporting the same, means for performing various operations on said book, means for continuously driving said pressure-belts, and means for gripping the unsupported portion of said books adjacent the points Where said operations are performed.

3. In a hookbinding machine, a pair of spaced pressure'helts running substantially the length of the machine and adapted to grip a portion of the sides of each hook for supporting the same, means for performing various operations on said book means for continuously driving said pressuredielts, and a plurality of short pressure-helts for grip ping the unsupported portion of said books adjacent the points Where said operations are performed, said belts all traveling at the same speed, r

4. In a hoolrbinding machine, a pair of spaced pressure-belts running substantially the length of the machine and adapted to grip the upper portion of the sides of each book for supporting the same, means for performing various operations on said hook, means for driving said pressure-belts, and means for gripping the unsupported portion of said hooks adjacent the points where said operations are performed.

5. In a hoolihinding machine, a pair of spaced pressure-belts running substantially the length of the machine and adapted to grip a portion of the sides of each book for supporting the same in a vertical position, means for performing various operations on said book, means for driving said pressurebelts, and means for gripping the unsupported portion of said books adjacent the points Where said operations are performed.

6. In a bookhinding machine having means for gripping and advancing the hook, means for gluing the back of the book, means for applying glue between the hack edges of the sheets, and mechanism for applying a cover thereto comprising means adapted to travel at the speed of the book for pressing the cover upon the glued back of the book, and means for simultaneously exerting lateral pressure on said cover adjacent the back.

7. In a bookbinding machine having means for gripping and advancing the hook, means for gluing the back of the hook, and 1ncchanism for applying a cover thereto comprising a conveyor adapted to travel at the speed of the book, said conveyor having a portion spaced from the first-mentioned means so as to receive a book cover, said conveyor approaching the path of the books as it advances to press the cover on the hook, and means for simultaneously exerting pressure on the sides of the cover adjacent the hack.

8. In a bookbinding machine having means for gripping and advancing the hook, means for gluing the hack of the hook, and mechanism for applying a cover thereto comprising a conveyor adapted to travel at the speed of the hook, said conveyor having a portion spaced fromthe books so as to receive a hook cover, said conveyor approaching the path of the hooks as it advances to press the cover on the hook, and means carried by the conveyor for sii'nultaneously exerting pressure on the sides of the cover adjacent the hack.

9, In a booldoinding machine having means for gripping and advancing the hook, means for gluing the baclr or the book, and mechanism for applying a cover thereto comprising a conveyor adapted to travel at the speed of the book, said conveyor having a portion spacedfrom the first-mentioned means so as to receive a book cover, said conveyor having a series of transversely arranged slats, plates slidably mounted on said slats at the sides of the path of said books, said conveyor approaching said books as it advances to press a cover thereon, and means for moving said plates toward each other to squeeze the hack edges of the book.

10. In a bookbinding machine, having means for gripping and advancing the hook, means for gluing the hack of the book, and mechanism ."for applying a cover thereto comprising a conveyor adapted to travel at the speed of the book, said conveyor having a portion spaced from the conveyor so as to receive a book cover, said conveyor having a series of transversely arranged slats, plates slidahly mounted on said slats at the sides of the path of said hooks, said conveyor approaching said books as it advances to press a cover thereon, converging channels Within the conveyor and means carried by said plates and extending through said slats ior engaging said channels for moving said plates toward each other to squeeze the back edges of the hook.

11. In a bookbinding machine, having means for gripping and advancing the hook, means for gluing the back of the hook, and mechanism for applying a cover thereto comprising a conveyor adapted to travel at the speed of the book, said conveyor having a portion spaced from the conveyor so as to receive a book cover, said conveyor having a series of transversely arranged slats, plates slidahly mounted on said slats at the sides of the path or said books, said conveyor approaching said hooks as it advances to press a cover thereon, converging channels Within the conveyor, means carried by said plates and extending through said slats for engaging said channels for moving said plates toward each other to squeeze the back edges of the book, and means for adjustably positioning said channels.

12. In a hookhinding machine having means for gripping and advancing the book, means for gluing the hack of thehook, and mechanism for applying a cover thereto comprising means adapted to travel at the speed of the hook for pressing the cover upon the glued hack oi? the book, and means for simultaneously exerting. lateral pressureon said cover adjacent the back for a protracted length of time.

13. In a bookbinding machine having means for gripping and advancing the book, means for gluing the back of the book, and mechanism for applying a cover thereto comprising means adapted to travel at the speed of the book for pressing the cover upon the glued back of the book, and means carried by said mechanism for simultaneously exerting lateral pressure on said cover adjacent the back for a protracted length of time.

14. In a bookbinding machine, a pair of spaced pressure-belts running substan tially the length of the machine and adapted to grip a portion of the sides of each book for supporting the same, means for performing various operations on said book, means for driving said pressure-belts, and a conveyor for feeding books to said pressure belts in timed relation thereto constructed and arranged to maintain driving contact with the book until the book is gripped by said pressure belts.

15. In a bookbinding machine having means for gripping and advancing the book, means for gluing the back of the book, and mechanism for applying a cover thereto comprising means adapted to travel at the speed of the book for pressing the cover upon the glued back of the book, and means movin with, and in.the direction of movement 0 the book for simultaneously exerting lateral pressure on said cover adjacent the back.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of May, 1927.

RAYMOND E. ACKLEY. 

